"Nichirin Blade?" Tsuruko small head snapped around as she realized, finally spotting her Nichirin Blade by the wall.
But it was already too late.
The massive form of Kamanue stirred once more, rising clumsily to his feet.
he shook his dazed head—the wisteria poison had damage his mind, leaving the demon nearly insane.
Otherwise, fleeing would have been his wisest course of action.
"ROAR!!"
With a thunderous roared, Kamanue charged again towards Shinichi and Tsuruko.
"Tch." Shinichi's expression remained unchanged as he swiftly retreated a step.
In one fluid motion, he reached out, seized Tsuruko by the collar and yanked her off her feet before she could react.
He spun and sprinted backward, dragging Tsuruko along like a ragdoll.
Her legs flailed uselessly against the ground like limp noodles.
"W-wait! Stop!" she shrieked, but Shinichi paid no heed to her.
As they neared the wall, Shinichi dropped into a slide, his free hand snatching up the pale blue Nichirin Blade from the ground.
He sprang back up instantly—while Tsuruko yelped in pain as her backside collided brutally with the ground.
Kamanue pursued relentlessly and now the towering dead-end wall loomed before Shinichi.
There was no escape!
"ROAR!!" Kamanue grotesque maw gaped wide, foul breath wash over them.
Tsuruko face drained of color.
At the critical moment—SNAP!
Kamanue jaws clamped shut, but only empty air met his teeth.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The crisp sound of deerskin boots striking the wall echoed as Shinichi sprinted vertically up the surface.
Harnessing the momentum, he ascended several meters before kicking off explosively.
The recoil sent him spinning midair.
Mid-flip, he released his grip—Tsuruko screamed again as she was hurled unceremoniously into the ground.
THUD!
Shinichi landed smoothly, knees bending to absorb the impact.
He rose slowly, brandishing the Nichirin Blade with deliberate flair in one hand.
"My reflexes have sharpened. Excellent" Shinichi murmured, nodding in approval.
"ROAR!!!"
The enraged roar snapped his attention forward.
Shinichi lifted his gaze, heterochromatic eyes flickering with intensity.
"Ah, I nearly forgot about you. Lower Moon Six? Pathetic."
Swish!
Adjusting his stance, Shinichi gripped the sword with both hands.
An invisible surge of energy rippled outward, billowing his white haori and making the black Demon Slayer Corps uniform snap violently.
Though this Nichirin Blade was lighter than his own, it was still a legitimate weapon.
The instant his fingers tightened around the hilt, torrents of vitality erupted forth.
A verdant glow ignited along the pale blue blade—this sword, accustomed to Water Breathing, now tasted the essence of Forest Breathing for the first time.
"Forest Breathing Seventh Form -Soaring Wood Dragon Slash!"
A dazzling emerald light instantly illuminated the night as an illusory green dragon surged forth with overwhelming momentum.
The resonating blade roared like the dragon itself and just as Shinichi's figure flashed by, the emerald dragon's massive body lunged forward charging straight at Kamanue.
BOOM!!
***
On a rooftop somewhere, a figure suddenly stopped.
Violet eyes reflected the brilliant green light erupting from a nearby alley—such a familiar sensation!
Shinobu Kocho heart was suddenly disturbed like a stone dropped into still water, rippling endlessly.
Who was that?!
That was definitely the aura of Forest Breathing!
Absolutely! Without a doubt!
Whoosh!
Shinobu's figure shot towards the source of the Forest Breathing at lightning speed.
Her heart was more anxious, more uncertain and more excited than ever before.
Could it be him?!
***
Tsuruko whose hair was tangled with twigs and leaves, had just peeked out from the bushes when she witnessed a scene that left her utterly stunned.
The Lower Moon Six, who she had thought was overwhelmingly powerful, had been decapitated in a single strike!
Of course, the terrifying phantom emerald dragon slash also left her mouth gaping.
"So... so strong..."
Thud!
Kamanue grotesque head rolled to the ground, tumbling right to the edge of the bushes.
His pale purple eyes, marked with "Lower Six," glared at the still-shocked Tsuruko.
His head had reverted from its monstrous form to its original appearance, now bearing a "工"-shaped pattern.
On the brink of death, Kamanue regained his sanity, but his fading consciousness still drove his mouth to speak.
"No! Impossible! I—I just became one of the Twelve Kizuki! No! This can't be my end! To die like some insignificant insect?! I refuse to accept this!"
Tsuruko stared dumbfounded at Kamanue's still-chattering head when suddenly, a Nichirin Blade was planted beside her.
"Thanks, girl. Your sword's pretty good." Shinichi casually slipped a test tube filled with Kamonue's blood into the silver mirror at his waist.
Tsuruko suddenly snapped out of it, her eyes filled with admiration as she stammered excitedly.
"S-S-Senpai! You're amazing! Wh-Who are you?!"
Shinichi glanced at Kamanue's dissipating head before kicking it away.
"Me? You don't recognize me? Well, it has been almost half a year. I'm Shinichi Moriki. Ever heard of me?"
Shinichi... Moriki ? Who? Wait! Shinichi Moriki?!
Tsuruko expression twisted in shock as she stared at him in disbelief.
"T-The Forest Hashira?"
Wasn't Shinichi Moriki the Forest Hashira that Matsudaira-senpai and the others always talked about?
But... but didn't they say the Forest Hashira had died fighting an Upper Moon?
Then what was this before her? The Forest Hashira's ghost?!
As Tsuruko questioned her sanity, Shinichi also grew doubtful.
Why was this girl still gaping like an idiot?
Had the Demon Slayer Corps already forgotten about him?
That couldn't be—it had only been a few months, right?
Suddenly, Shinichi sharply turned his head.
Just now, he had sensed an extremely, extremely familiar presence.
Sure enough, as soon as Shinichi turned around, he saw a petite figure.
The moment their eyes met—his heterochromatic eyes locked with her violet ones—both of them froze.
However, Shinichi was stunned by Shinobu Kocho's imposing aura and her uniform, complete with golden buttons.
Damn, it's only been half a year and Shinobu has already become a Hashira?
Meanwhile, Shinobu was frozen in place as she took in Shinichi's face.
It really is that blockhead Shinichi! His face hasn't changed at all!
Neither of them spoke and an eerie silence settled between them.
The strange tension made Tsuruko quietly duck her head back into the bushes.
The Forest Hashira and the Insect Hashira seem to have some history!
Could what Matsudaira-senpai said actually be true?
After a long silence, Shinichi was the one who finally broke the awkward atmosphere.
With a sigh, he looked at Shinobu and said.
"Long time no see, Shinobu. You—ahh!!"
The edge of a Nichirin Blade flashed before his eyes in an instant.
------------------------------
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